How Browns Socialhouse Uses WISK’s Inventory Solution
Challenges
Goals
Browns Socialhouse utilizaba hojas de cálculo sofisticadas para rastrear su inventario, pero requería conocimientos y habilidades avanzadas de Excel para mantenerlas actualizadas de manera adecuada y precisa. Siempre tenían problemas para mantener las fórmulas correctas y dedicaban mucho tiempo a actualizarlas para que siguieran funcionando. Actualizar Excel con nuevas recetas y precios era tedioso y penoso, y consumía mucho tiempo que podría dedicarse a trabajar en otras áreas de la empresa.
Browns Socialhouse utilizaba hojas de cálculo sofisticadas para rastrear su inventario, pero requería conocimientos y habilidades avanzadas de Excel para mantenerlas actualizadas de manera adecuada y precisa. Siempre tenían problemas para mantener las fórmulas correctas y dedicaban mucho tiempo a actualizarlas para que siguieran funcionando. Actualizar Excel con nuevas recetas y precios era tedioso y penoso, y consumía mucho tiempo que podría dedicarse a trabajar en otras áreas de la empresa.
Al ser WISK una solución de inventario más premium, el precio originalmente era una barrera para Browns Socialhouse. Como también operan en una franquicia, no era convencional que una ubicación adoptara un software que las otras ubicaciones no utilizan.
Todos los gerentes que han usado WISK han considerado que su uso es muy intuitivo, específicamente la báscula bluetooth para hacer el inventario de los bares. Ha aumentado la eficiencia en su rutina de inventario semanal.
The Problem
Brown’s Socialhouse struggled with the inefficiencies of managing inventory through Excel spreadsheets. While the system worked, it was far from ideal. The spreadsheet demanded a high level of proficiency in Excel, which made it difficult for all team members to fully utilize it. Constant issues with formulas required frequent fixes, and updating recipes and pricing was a cumbersome process that ate up valuable time.
The manual inventory process was another major pain point. Counting inventory and placing vendor orders were time-consuming tasks, and the team often felt there had to be a quicker, more efficient way to get the job done. With no centralized system in place, each manager had to keep track of inventory and pricing separately, which led to inconsistent data and inefficiencies across locations.
This lack of streamlined processes not only made inventory management more stressful but also took away time that could have been better spent on other operational needs. The team was increasingly aware that the old way of doing things wasn’t sustainable, and a more automated, user-friendly solution was needed to optimize their workflow and improve efficiency.
The Solution
WISK completely transformed how Brown’s Socialhouse handled inventory. It replaced the clunky, error-prone Excel spreadsheets with a more efficient and user-friendly system. The team no longer had to be Excel experts to keep things running smoothly—WISK's intuitive design made it easy for everyone to use, from bar managers to staff.
One of the biggest improvements was the integration of the Bluetooth scale, which simplified the inventory counting process. Managers immediately appreciated how fast and accurate it made their work. WISK also created a centralized dashboard, so there was no more juggling multiple spreadsheets and tracking down data from different locations. Everything was in one place, easy to access, and ready for action.
As a result, Brown’s Socialhouse saw major time savings. One location saved 2 hours each week on inventory and vendor orders. Over the course of a year, those hours added up to significant labor cost savings. WISK not only streamlined the workflow but also gave the team more time to focus on other tasks, improving overall efficiency and reducing stress. It was clear that WISK was the solution they had been looking for.
How Browns Socialhouse Uses WISK’s Inventory Solution
Brown’s Socialhouse relied on a solid but outdated Excel spreadsheet for inventory management. While the spreadsheet worked, it came with a major catch—it required a high level of Excel proficiency to fully unlock its potential. As the Chris Lawrie explained, “I found myself needing to fix our location's formulas constantly,” highlighting just how often the team had to troubleshoot errors that came up in the system. Updating new recipes and pricing also posed a challenge, as making these adjustments in Excel was neither straightforward nor fast.
The frustration didn’t stop there. The team was also spending an excessive amount of time manually counting inventory, and it became clear that technology could offer a better solution. "I felt like there must be a faster way to actually count using technology," the manager said. That’s where WISK came in. With WISK, the team no longer had to waste time adjusting formulas or battling through cumbersome updates. The software made counting inventory quicker and more accurate, reducing the tedious work that had previously slowed everything down.
The switch to WISK eliminated the constant struggles with Excel, saving both time and mental energy for the team and allowing them to focus on what mattered most: running the business more efficiently.
WISK also created an Enterprise level dashboard for me which is way easier than having Excel Spreadsheets flying around everywhere.
WISK also gave Brown’s Socialhouse something that Excel never could: an easy-to-use, centralized dashboard. The manager explained, “It created an Enterprise-level dashboard for me, which is way easier than having Excel spreadsheets flying around everywhere.” Instead of juggling multiple spreadsheets and dealing with scattered data, the dashboard brought everything together in one clean, accessible place. No more searching through different files or worrying about losing track of important information.
The transition to WISK wasn’t instantaneous, though. The team needed some time to adjust. “It took about 6 weeks for our team to truly get the benefit and hang of it,” the manager shared. To make the process smoother, they piloted the system at just one location first, which helped the team prepare and understand how it would work across the board. Once they got the hang of it, the feedback from bar managers was overwhelmingly positive. Each one found the system intuitive, fast, and extremely helpful in making their weekly routines run more smoothly. The shift from the chaos of spreadsheets to a streamlined, efficient system made a world of difference.
«Tenemos una sucursal que ha ahorrado aproximadamente 2 horas de trabajo cada semana en inventario y pedidos de proveedores. Cuando multiplicas esa cantidad a lo largo del año, empiezas a ver el beneficio financiero del producto».
Chris Lawrie
Socio de operaciones regionales
Brown’s Socialhouse saw a clear transformation after adopting WISK. The transition from manual inventory processes to an automated system not only saved the team time but also improved accuracy and efficiency. With WISK, one location was able to save two hours per week on inventory and vendor orders, totaling 104 hours annually. This allowed the team to shift focus to more valuable tasks that contributed to the overall success of the business.
In just six weeks, the team fully grasped the system, and each bar manager found the product intuitive and fast, seamlessly fitting into their weekly routines. WISK’s integration of Bluetooth scale technology and the centralized dashboard made inventory tracking easier, more accurate, and less time-consuming.
Ultimately, WISK helped Brown’s Socialhouse streamline operations, save time, and improve decision-making—all contributing to a more efficient and profitable business.
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Brown's Social House
Browns Socialhouse es una franquicia con sede en Vancouver dentro de la familia Browns Restaurant Group, con más de 80 ubicaciones en todo Canadá. ¡Sirven comida sabrosa, siempre fresca y divertida!
Sus ambientes elegantes y relajados son el equilibrio perfecto entre un «pub de barrio» y una «cena informal de primer nivel». Los huéspedes disfrutan de un ambiente informal de primera calidad que los hace sentir como en casa.
Maurice, Assistant Manager @ Flyjin
“Before using WISK, we had hesitations due to past unsuccessful experiences with other systems. We often reverted to pen and paper, which required transferring data to Excel, making the process very time-consuming. We started scanning everything, doing the inventory, it went super well, so I was very pleasantly surprised.”
Massimo, General Manager @ Lucille’s
“It took a lot less time to get everyone on board. They were all open for it because it's an app. They could use their phone. You know, at the touch of our phones, we have everything available. We just scan the item, we go through it all in a sequence, so it's very well organized, everything's well counted, and I think it just really facilitates the time efficiency of everything.”
Loyd, Owner @ L’infâme Tittle Tattle and La Gargamelle in Montreal
Before WISK, honestly, inventory was kind of a drag. We had this huge Excel sheet, we have over a hundred products in here, so it's kind of hard to just do inventories. It used to take us about one or two hours every week. Twice a week actually, it was not very accurate with our Excel sheet, but now it takes us like 20 minutes and we're done. And I was kind of surprised it was so user-friendly.